LEWISTON — Downtown academic and child enrichment program Tree Street Youth has been awarded a $400,000 Next Generation Foundation of Maine grant to help expand and remodel the group’s Howe Street location.
Tree Street serves between 120 and 150 students from kindergarten to 12th grade daily with after-school tutoring and educational assistance. It’s based at 144 Howe St., across from Longley Elementary School and near the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.
The group has served more than 800 youth since it was founded in 2011 and more than 500 in 2014.
Executive Director Julia Sleeper said the group plans to create additional classroom space for homework help, tutoring as well as space for enrichment activities such as dance, art, music, college preparation and youth leadership development. Plans also call for improving the outdoor play area at the building.
The group officially purchased the building in August with financing from the Genesis Community Loan Fund. Harriman Associates is doing preliminary design work for the expansion.
“The grant award from the Next Generation Foundation is an incredible endorsement of our work and our plans to expand in order to continue engaging all our youth and families while also supporting the ever-growing numbers of youth attending the center,” Sleeper said in a written statement. “It is a huge boost and game-changer for our organization and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
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